About Us

Since

1920

Under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Pasha, Anadolu Ajansı (AA) was established on April 6, 1920, during the years of Türkiye’s War of Independence.

Anadolu Ajansı, which has grown stronger in the century since its founding and has become a global news organization, broadcasts in 13 different languages all over the world with offices in 39 significant global hubs and more than 3,000 employees in 144 countries.

AA makes a difference in the world media with its news and striking images, especially from regions where journalism is highly challenging.

14 Regional Directorates

88 Domestic Offices

100 Countries with representatives

39 Overseas Offices

142 Different employee nationalities

3.000+ Domestic & International Subscribers

History

The history of Anadolu Ajansı (AA) is almost identical to that of the Republic of Turkiye. Having been founded on April 6, 1920, 17 days before the Turkish Grand National Assembly convened first time, Anadolu Ajansı helped announce the first legislation by the Assembly that established the Republic. Anadolu Ajansı witnessed all stages of the National Struggle, the War of Liberation and reforms of the Republic.

After Istanbul came under occupation on March 16, 1920 and the Ottoman parliament was annulled, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk called on all provinces to hold elections for a new parliament to be established in Ankara. Several intellectuals, who realized that they could not stay in Istanbul any longer, tried to join the National Struggle. This development paved the way for foundation of Anadolu Ajansı.

Those intellectuals leaving Istanbul went to Ankara in two convoys. The journalist Yunus Nadi (Abalioglu) and the writer Halide Edip (Adivar) met in Geyve on March 31st. During their meeting at the train station, they decided that it was necessary to found “an agency organization” in Ankara as soon as possible. They agreed to name the agency as “Anadolu Ajansı”.

It was proposed to establish Anadolu Ajansı at the “School of Agriculture” which also housed Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s headquarters. On April 6th, 1920, Anadolu Ajansı was founded. Anadolu Ajansı carried out a difficult task during the War of Liberation. During the war, Anadolu Ajansı informed the people of the country who did not know what was going on in the rest of the world. AA also struggled against submissive attitude of some foreign and Turkish newspapers in Istanbul. The newly founded agency also had to defend the National Struggle in the world, inform the world public opinion on Turkiye’s rightful demands and act carefully against tricks of some circles.

After Ataturk assigned some of his closest friends to turn the Anadolu Ajansı into a Western news agency, Anadolu Ajansı Corporation was established on March 1, 1925. Anadolu Ajansı acquired an autonomous status with an unexampled organizational chart even in the Western countries in those days.